For years, Dana White’s “massive superstar” waited for his chance at the crown. So, when Khamzat Chimaev finally got the green light for the middleweight title, Dricus Du Plessis’ name as his opponent wasn’t going to stop him. The South African is already an underdog, even if Chimaev’s endurance is his blinding spot. Forbes even opened him at +160 odds versus Chimaev’s −185. Still, the Chechen warrior is not taking any chances against the undefeated fighter with an 11-game win streak.

For some time now, the Borz has been sharing his workout updates with his followers, reminding them that “kill everyone” is not just a quote for him but a mentality. But he has also divided his focus to teasing his opponent and heating the UFC 319 further.

Back in June, the Chechen warrior posted a photo of the South African’s team. With that, he added the caption of five donuts and a laughing emoji. His hint, of course, was how du Plessis’ team was not in shape to train a defender like him. DdP, then, simply responded with a witty reaction as he responded, “O sh— would get you but there’s no inbred emoji.” However, now, Head Coach Javier Mendez has revealed Chimaev is onto something.

On The Javier & Mo Show, Mo Aziz raised the ultimate question: “How do you know his (Chimaev’s) cardio is a ‘five-rounds’ cardio? Have you heard something about his cardio?” Mendez, who had already chosen Chimaev as his winner, spoke, “I’m assuming. I’ve seen it. I’ve seen him training. Also, Ilir Latifi is a good brother of mine. He’s with the training camp. I haven’t talked about the training camp, though. He hasn’t said anything about the training camp. I like Chimaev. I like DdP too. I like everything about him, but I just think Chimaev is the heir to that throne.“

Chimaev has been working out with Arman Tsarukyan to improve his endurance as he prepares to fight du Plessis. Moreover, the two are training under a cardio specialist as the Chechen‑Emirati looks to be a five‑round cardio machine. He is already healthy. If he improves his endurance against the fighter known for his unorthodox fighting style, he might out-run him. But that doesn’t mean reality checks are not waiting for him, that too, from his workout partner.

Khamzat Chimaev gets a reality check for UFC 319

Before ‘Borz‘ headlines UFC 319 in Chicago, one of his closest training partners has sounded the alarm. Lightweight contender Arman Tsarukyan told Kamil Gadzhiev that Khamzat Chimaev’s intensity often sabotages him. “Khamzat’s never at 100% on fight night because he constantly overtrains. After sparring, he always goes to work the bag, lift weights, etc,” according to Bloody Elbow.

Tsarukyan added, “Khamzat needs a man beside him who controls him 24/7… when you’re overtrained, you can’t work properly in sparring.” His words only add fuel to Dricus du Plessis’ camp, where coaching partner Mark Hulme has already tipped the South African’s wrestling as the “secret weapon” to finish Borz inside three rounds.

Even pundits are circling the debate. On The Believe You Me Podcast, Paul Felder hailed Sam Calavitta’s balance of endurance and explosiveness, while Michael Bisping cut in with his trademark bluntness: “There ain’t no secret. The secret is hard goddamn work.” But if Tsarukyan’s right, Chimaev’s problem isn’t laziness—it’s burnout.

And history shows the risk is real. The undefeated contender nearly retired after severe COVID‑19 complications in 2021 and more recently withdrew from UFC Saudi Arabia after being “violently ill,” as Dana White told Talk Sport. For Borz, the danger at UFC 319 may not just be du Plessis — it could be his own refusal to slow down. And for the defender, Chimaev turning his weakness into his strength is something to watch out for.